Football news

Portuguese champions Porto have been cleared to participate in this season's Champions League after UEFA decided it could not rule on alleged events in the 2003/04 domestic season.

UEFA said the case dated back to the 2003/04 Portuguese championship involving alleged events in a case known as the Apito Dourado (Golden Whistle).

Porto were stripped six domestic league points by Portuguese authorities for allegedly bribing referees in a scandal which only came to light in the 2007/08 season.

In July last year, the Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected an appeal by Benfica and Vitoria Guimaraes to have Porto banned from the Champions League.

As Portuguese title holders, Porto will enter the Champions League at the group stage.

Spurs sign Bassong from Newcastle

Tottenham have signed Newcastle defender Sebastien Bassong.

The 23-year-old, who can play at left-back and centre-half, joins a Spurs team depleted by injuries to central defenders Jonathan Woodgate and Michael Dawson while long-suffering club captain Ledley King is also doubtful to start the season.

The former France under-21 international, who British media said was signed for £8 million, is serving a two-match ban held over from last season and cannot play in Tottenham's opening league game at home to Liverpool.

Bassong moved to Newcastle in July 2008 from Ligue 1 side Metz.

Robbie Fowler new Aussie club captain

Former England striker Robbie Fowler has been named captain of Australia's newest A-League club, North Queensland Fury.

The 34-year-old former Liverpool and Manchester City forward signed a two-year contract in February to become the Townsville-based club's marquee player in a move hailed by administrators as a coup for the fledgling league.

"He has only played three games and even when he wasn't playing he was still showing those leadership qualities that I was looking for," coach Ian Ferguson said.

Fury play Sydney FC today in their season-opener.

Real tried to buy Forlan - media

Atletico Madrid rejected an offer from cross-town rivals Real for Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan, a Spanish newspaper said yesterday.

After failing to sign striker David Villa from Valencia, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez offered Atletico €36 million for Forlan, the ABC newspaper said.

Atletico president Miguel Angel Gil rejected the offer, saying he would never agree to sell last season's top scorer in the Spanish league to the club's "eternal rival".

Real then switched their attention to French side Lyon's Karim Benzema, who last month joined Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka at the club.

Season to kick off with Robson tribute

Fans at English Premier League grounds will remember Bobby Robson with a minute's applause on the opening day of the season next Saturday.

"Bobby Robson brought so much to the game throughout his long and successful career," Premier League chairman Dave Richards said of the former England manager who died of cancer last week aged 76.

"With that in mind it is fitting that fans across the country will have the opportunity to celebrate his life, and his enormous contribution to football, with a minute's applause."

This weekend's opening round of Football League fixtures will also be marked by a minute's applause at grounds for Robson.

Albanian magnate to invest in Milan

Rezart Taci, the Albanian magnate who almost succeeded in taking a major share of Serie A club Bologna's shares, has now shifted focus on Milan and already held talks with president Silvio Berlusconi.

"Berlusconi is an exciting figure. He is very tied up in the issues of Italy at the moment and so Milan cannot be the centre of his attention," Taci told Corriere dello Sport.

"We discussed many things and I will not rule out a return to Bologna. However, I can say that I could soon become a minority shareholder in a very important club before the start of the Serie A season."

Milan have been scouting around for new investors and Rossoneri fans now hope Taci's involvement can provide the funds to bolster the squad after signing Klaas Jan Huntelaar.

Crouch gamble at Tottenham

Peter Crouch insisted that his move to Tottenham will not torpedo his hopes of playing in the World Cup finals.

The 28-year-old beanpole striker will compete with Jermain Defoe, Robbie Keane and Roman Pavlyuchenko for a starting place in Harry Redknapp's Spurs line-up.

At previous club Portsmouth, he was a guaranteed starter.

"I have confidence in my own ability and that, when given the opportunities, I will take them," said Crouch who has scored 16 goals in 34 England appearances.

"I've been in and out of the England side but when I've played I've always felt I've done well and scored goals. I'm confident that I'll be playing every week and doing all I can to make sure I'm on that plane to South Africa."